How to go from good to great? - Writers Forum

high_flyer · 04-23-2006, 10:30 AM

Whenever I come with a chapter or even a series of chapters I look back I think, 'oh that was ok', 'few fairly funny bits and some ok action' but generally just a bit mediocre. But I want to go from that to publishable standard.

So basically I'm asking those veterans how they went from enthusiastic amateurs to prolific, published authors. Is it practice makes perfect or is it that the more life-experience you get, the better you can write (hopefully not that one cos I'm only 18 and I'm not a patient person)?

Ask also, the perennial question. How do you get published, even if you think your work is almost up to the grade? Is there a big degree of investment and risk or is it an easy process? Do you have to constrict yourself to who your intending to publish for or is it more a case of them fighting to publish what you've already written?

Thanks for your time.

Selorian · 04-23-2006, 10:53 AM

There's no doubt that life experience can be beneficial to your writing, but it isn't the only thing that can make you better.

Reading books to see how successful, good authors put their stories together is an essential part to becoming better. Read not just as a reader, but with a writer's eye. Dissect the work and learn the techniques used that make their writing of the calibre it is.

Practice is the next step. Write, write, write. Write whatever comes to mind. Take the parts that are good and build on them. See why they work and apply it to the other parts of your writing. Get feedback and listen to what is said about it, and then use it to improve.

As for publishing, very seldom will you have publishers fighting over your work. There are too many stories being submitted for them to do so. Find markets suitable for the work you have already written, and write pieces suitable for markets you wish to submit to. It isn't easy--no doubt you'll get rejections along the way, but look at them as proof that you are actually moving forward with your writing. Eventually, you'll get that letter or email that we all want--the one accepting a piece of our work.

Hope this helps.

aliceedelweiss · 04-23-2006, 11:04 AM

thanks selorian, this even helped me

My suggestions are, (even though I'm not published yet and probably won't be for a while) are read read read, like he said. Read everything, if you can. And don't think you just have to read the 'good' books because reading the bad ones help too, it shows you not what to do. everyone gets better the more you do something, the more you know how things work, the more you write. so just keep at it

Karl Himmelreich · 04-23-2006, 11:14 AM

Whenever I come with a chapter or even a series of chapters I look back I think, 'oh that was ok', 'few fairly funny bits and some ok action' but generally just a bit mediocre
Me too. I suppose that is common, but I think if you have the ability to recognize the mediocre segments in your own writing then you are part way along the path to spicing them up. No one writes a masterpeice in their first draft. Just go back and rework it until you are happy with it...Then have others read it and add their suggestions. It is 2 steps fwd 1 step back....

Selorian · 04-23-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliceedelweiss

And don't think you just have to read the 'good' books because reading the bad ones help too, it shows you not what to do.

Very good, valid point.

aliceedelweiss · 04-23-2006, 11:27 AM

thats how I always learned. Some books I hate the beginning of and then love the rest. I can actually name two like that, The great Gatsby (which I now love, it just took me so long to get past the beginning) and Something wicked this way comes(which I also like very much now.) I tend to trudge through the books I can't stand, and I know right away why I don't like them, or what they did wrong. And sometimes I don't know what they did wrong, so I spend forever thinking about how I could have improved their story to my liking, since it's all opinion.

suzakugaiden · 04-23-2006, 12:55 PM

I don't remember WHERE I read this, but if you read a book and like its still, re-type it exactly as it's printed. This gets you used to *writing* in that style, and I guess causes some sort of muscle memory or something. Basically, it just instinctualizes the process, and gets you used to the particular rhythm of writing.

"it shows you not what to do."

*cough*Eragon*cough*

high_flyer · 04-23-2006, 01:30 PM

Very helpful, constructive advice Selorian, thanks.

And your right, alice, you can learn from reading what isn't so good. What I would add to this general pool of advice is that you should open yourself to new types of writing, even genres. Staying in one genre definitely inhibits your writing techniques. When I read the Konrad Saga I was initially thinking how rubbish it was until I realised by the end how imaginative it was. Now a lot more of my writing is original and fresh.

Mike C · 04-23-2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by high_flyer

So basically I'm asking those veterans how they went from enthusiastic amateurs to prolific, published authors. Is it practice makes perfect or is it that the more life-experience you get, the better you can write (hopefully not that one cos I'm only 18 and I'm not a patient person)?

Life experience is a large part of it. Martin Amis had his first novel published at 19, but readily admits now that no publisher in the country would probably have turned it down, out of a mixture of curiosity and politeness to his father.

His father, Kingsley, pointedly observed that eveything you write before you're 21 is shit.

Patience is something you'll have to learn, no matter how talented. Once you have a novel, it's still a long process getting published.

But practice - write like it matters. Read widely and wisely, and write more. Be prepared to throw the novel out and start over. Don't settle for second best, least of all from yourself.

Quote:

Ask also, the perennial question. How do you get published, even if you think your work is almost up to the grade?

ALMOST up to grade? Don't waste anyone's time. Don't even think about it until you're 100% convinced your work is as good as anything you've ever written.

Quote:

Is there a big degree of investment and risk or is it an easy process? Do you have to constrict yourself to who your intending to publish for or is it more a case of them fighting to publish what you've already written?

No investment. NEVER pay out. If agents, editors or publishers ask for any kind of fee up front (unless you are specifically employing an editor) run like hell.

Agents earn by taking a pre-arranged percentage of your earnings. Until you get paid by the publisher, they don't get paid. If they ask for money you are being scammed.

mammamaia · 04-23-2006, 06:38 PM

ditto all mike said!

as for 'investment'... there definitely is one... certainly not in paying any agent or publisher, as mike addressed, but in ink cartridges [or ribbons], paper, envelopes, and postage... and TIME... that can be 'a big degree of investment' depending on your financial circumstances and commitments to 'day job' and family...

none of the process is 'easy'... you have to be able to write an effective query letter and/or proposal... and a compelling synopsis, in many cases...

FrankBlissett · 04-23-2006, 07:54 PM

All great advice - especially Mike & Maia. I'm also intrigued by the advice to write out good stories. I had never heard that one before, but can see how it could help you focus on the story.

As for specific "practice", try forcing yourself to undertake the "challenges" on writing boards. If you can't find one then make up your own. Even if it's not a style or subject you're interested in, it'll still help.

Also, dabble in poetry every now and then (ie through the challenges) or essays - and for poets and non-fiction writers, try your hands at fiction every now and then. Tell yourself I'm going to write X pages of fiction this week, but also one poem and an essay this month. You never know when you're going to say "my stories suck, but I really like these letters-to-the-editor I've been writing."

-Frank